Seïf al-Islam Kadhafi en route vers le Mali

LE FIGARO: Le fils de l'ex-dictateur libyen et le chef des services secrets militaires ont trouvé refuge dans le Sahara auprès de rebelles touaregs.

Seïf al-Islam Kadhafi a quitté la Libye. Son convoi qui était placé sous une forte escorte de combattants touaregs aurait pénétré jeudi au Niger dans le secteur des trois frontières (Libye, Niger, Algérie). L'opération d'exfiltration du fils de Mouammar Kadhafi été organisée, selon nos informations, grâce à l'appui d'Agaly Alambo, l'ancien chef rebelle du Mouvement nigérien pour la justice (MNJ) et de ses hommes.

Seïf al-Islam Kadhafi serait décidé à ne pas subir le sort de son père tué il y a une semaine dans sa ville natale de Syrte. Résolu à sauver sa peau, il se serait caché dans le sud libyen avant de s'engager dans des couloirs qui l'ont conduit hors de portée de ses poursuivants libyens du Conseil national de transition. » | Par Thierry Oberlé | jeudi 27 octobre 2011

Saudi Arabia: Prince Nayef Named Heir to the Throne

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Prince Nayef bin Abdel-Aziz Al Saud as heir to the Saudi throne following the death of the previous second in line, Crown Prince Sultan, last week.

The tough-talking interior minister is known for cracking down on Islamic militants and resisting moves toward greater openness in the ultraconservative kingdom.

Prince Nayef will assume the throne upon the death of King Abdullah, 87, who is recovering from his third operation to treat back problems in less than a year.

Prince Sultan died in New York Saturday at the age of 80 after an unspecified illness.

Traditionally, the king chooses his heir. But Prince Nayef was chosen by Allegiance Council, a 37-member body composed of his brothers and cousins. King Abdullah created the council as part of his reforms and gave it a mandate to choose the heir.

Prince Nayef, 78, was also named vice prime minister and will also keep his job as interior minister. » | Friday, October 28, 2011

Related links here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Comment:

Traditionally, the king chooses his heir. But Prince Nayef was chosen by Allegiance Council, a 37-member body composed of his brothers and cousins.

Did the Allegiance Council really choose the heir independently, or did they choose Prince Nayef knowing that he was the King's preference? – © Mark

This comment also appears here

NZZ ONLINE: Ein streng Konservativer wird saudischer Thronfolger: Mit Nayif könnte Öffnung des Landes ein Ende haben » | Reuters | Freitag 28. Oktober 2011

FRANCE 2: Le nouveau prince héritier a été nommé : Nayef ben Abdel Aziz, 78 ans, a été nommé pour succéder à son frère Sultan, décédé il y a une semaine. ¶ La nomination du nouveau prince héritier d'Arabie saoudite souligne la rigidité du système de succession maintenant des octogénaires à la tête du royaume et suscite des inquiétudes. Le prince Nayef ben Abdel Aziz est connu pour sa fermeté. » | Par FTV avec agencies | vendredi 28 octobre 2011

Eurozone Crisis: Sarkozy Says Greece Was Not Ready to Join Euro

THE GUARDIAN: French president's remarks highlight the challege European leaders have in trying to hold the currency together

Nicolas Sarkozy threatened to take the shine off a day of jubilation in financial markets at a deal to rescue the eurozone, when he said it had been an "error" to allow Greece to join the euro a decade ago.

Amid more protest on the streets in Athens, the French president tried to convince the public to back reforms intended to maintain Greece's membership of the single currency. "It was an error because Greece entered with false [economic] figures … it was not ready," he said.

Sarkozy told French TV: "We had to face up to all this. If the euro had exploded on Wednesday night, all of Europe would have exploded. If Greece had defaulted, there would have been a domino effect carrying everyone away ... we took important decisions that avoided catastrophe."

His remarks underline the continuing frailities of the eurozone, and illustrates the task Europe's leaders have in trying to hold the currency together. » | Larry Elliott, Jill Treanor and Helena Smith | Thursday, October 27, 2011

Gaddafi Killer Faces Prosecution, Says Libyan Interim Government

THE GUARDIAN: NTC backs down from insistence Gaddafi died in crossfire and pledges justice for anyone proven to have fired lethal shot

Libya's interim government says it will prosecute anyone found responsible for the death of Muammar Gaddafi after his capture, in a retreat from its earlier insistence that the dictator had been killed by crossfire.

The change in position comes after a week of sustained criticism of the Libyan leader's captors, who used their camera phones to chronicle his death. The footage, including images of a wounded Gaddafi being sodomised with what looked like a bayonet, caused widespread revulsion outside the country.

Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, deputy chief of the National Transitional Council, said it would try to bring to justice anyone proven to have fired the shot to the head that killed Gaddafi.

"With regards to Gaddafi, we do not wait for anybody to tell us," he told the al-Arabiya satellite channel. "We had already launched an investigation. We have issued a code of ethics in handling of prisoners of war. I am sure that was an individual act and not an act of revolutionaries or the national army. Whoever is responsible for that [Gaddafi's killing] will be judged and given a fair trial." » | Martin Chulov and agencies | Thursday, October 27, 2011

Geert Wilders on Islam – London, Ontario

Sharia Law: Battlefield London
There's Islamic leadership tension in Britain - with hardline Muslims trying to enforce Sharia law in London. From abstention to amputation, RT's Laura Emmett's been hearing how they want to instill their tough code on the capital.

Ghannouchi: „Ich bin kein Khomeini“

DIE PRESSE: Der neue starke Mann in Tunis, Rachid Ghannouchi ist den einen Galionsfigur einer religiös-konservativen Partei, den anderen ein Wolf im Schafspelz. Der Mann ist Gegenwind gewöhnt.

Madrid/Tunis. Nett, gut erzogen, freundlich lächelnd. Der Sieger der ersten freien Wahl in Tunesien nach der Revolution entspricht nicht unbedingt dem finsteren Bild, das viele Europäer von einem Islamistenführer haben. Mit staatsmännischer Gelassenheit winkt Rachid Ghannouchi, Chef der islamischen Bewegung Ennahda (Wiedergeburt), vor seinem Hauptquartier in der Hauptstadt Tunis dem jubelnden Volk zu.

Auch seine Reden klingen nicht radikal, sondern sind durchsetzt mit Bekenntnissen zu Demokratie und Reformen. „Mein Traum ist es, Tunesien in ein Modell zu verwandeln, in dem Islam und Modernität zusammenspielen“, sagt der 70-jährige Geistliche und Philosophielehrer, Sohn eines Imams. „Wir leben nicht abgeschnitten von unserer Umwelt.“ Die Grundsätze der Demokratie „werden von Ennahda respektiert“. Auch wenn „islamische Werte“ der Politik als „Orientierungspunkte“ dienen sollen.

„Unsere Religion wird immer wieder als antidemokratisch bezeichnet, mit Gewalt und Terrorismus gleichgesetzt. Wir werden als Feinde der Kunst, der Schönheit, der Frauenrechte bezeichnet. Das ist falsch“, empört sich Ghannouchi. Es werde in Tunesien auch „keinen Kopftuchzwang“ oder sonstige Kleidungsvorschriften geben. „Wir sind gegen den Extremismus.“ » | Ralph Schulze | Mittwoch 26. Oktober 2011

WW2 Play Cancelled Over 'Censorship' Claims

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A playwright has cancelled a play set during the Second World War after claiming he was asked to remove references to Nazis, Jews and the invasion of Poland over fears of "offending" the audience.

Rod Tinson, whose Halloween play was due to be staged at Pendennis Castle in Falmouth, has accused English Heritage of trying to create a "Disneyfied" version of history by insisting on changes to his script.

The play featured scenes from different periods in the Tudor castle's history, including its role during the Second World War as a key coastal defence against German invasion of Britain.

Mr Tinson says the quango asked him to tone down parts of the script, including a young Jewish character expressing fears about his family in occupied Poland, over concerns that visitors would be "offended" by the material.

The playwright cancelled the play after refusing to make the requested changes. He said he could not understand why his script would be deemed offensive.

"They said it was inappropriate for an English Heritage audience. What version of history are they trying to illustrate at this place?" Mr Tinson added. Read on and comment » | Sarah Rainey | Thursday, October 27, 2011

Griechischer Krimi
Petros Markaris beschreibt den Niedergang seines Landes

Far-right Party 'Loses Ground' in Swiss Poll
Downturn in support for Swiss People's Party, which campaigned to stop influx of immigrants, partial results show.

'Black Gold' Stars at Doha Film Festival
The Oscar-winning director Jean Jacques Annaud is one of dozens of filmmakers attending this year's Doha Tribeca Film Festival in Doha. Much of his latest movie, Black Gold, was filmed in the south of Qatar, a first for the country and hopefully the beginning of more such ventures in the Gulf region. Al Jazeera's Matt Moore reports from Qatar's capital Doha.

Saudi Succession Likely to Be Contested
The death of Prince Sultan, the heir apparent in Saudi Arabia, raises questions over the succession in the country. According to reports, the ailing King Abdullah will appoint Prince Nayef as his successor. But that would go against the seniority rule, as he is not the oldest of his siblings. Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall reports.

Drat! Spiffing Old Words Dying Out - soz
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Cripes, you could be talking balderdash and a growing number of people won’t know what you are talking about.

Such words are dying out because of the popularity of shortened text message-style terms, a survey suggests.

Researchers found a significant decrease in the use of words which our parents and grandparents would have uttered on an almost daily basis.

Bally, laggard, rambunctious, verily, felicitations and spiffing were among other words they claimed would confuse the text generation.

Researchers questioned 2,000 adults to mark the launch of Planet Word, a book which tells the story of language from the earliest grunts to Twitter and beyond. Read on and comment » | Thursday, October 27, 2011

My comment:

Good grammar is dying out along with the old words. How many people know the difference between 'who' and 'whom'? How many people know the difference between 'I' and 'me'? Moreover, how often do we hear people saying 'less' when the should be saying 'fewer'? The general standard of language today is saddening, sometimes even alarming. Added to this, to the young, adjectives often just mean swear words! – © Mark

This comment appears here too.

Billionaire Sawiris Says Egypt Risks Becoming Iran

BLOOMBERG: From his 33rd-floor penthouse apartment with sweeping views of the Nile River, Naguib Sawiris, Egypt’s best-known billionaire and most prominent Christian, can hear the chants of Friday prayers in the distance. As he sits down to a breakfast of taameya and ful, dishes made from fava beans, demonstrators are gathering in Cairo’s Tahrir Square for a planned protest, this time aimed at stopping military trials of thousands of civilians arrested during the revolution that brought down the regime of President Hosni Mubarak.

Sawiris says his new political party, the Free Egyptians, is backing the demonstration, although he won’t be attending, Bloomberg Markets magazine reports in its December issue.

“I would love to go, but the problem is, my life is threatened,” he says.
The death threats started in late June after Sawiris, 57, posted an image on his Twitter account of Mickey Mouse in a beard and Minnie Mouse in a niqab, or full veil. The cartoon, sent to him by a Muslim friend after circulating in the blogosphere, was titled “Mickey and Minnie after …” -- meaning after Egypt’s November parliamentary elections, in which a September poll suggested Islamist parties would win the biggest share of the vote.

Sawiris thought it was funny. Muslims accused him of mocking their religion.
Sawiris, the founder of Orascom Telecom Holding SAE, apologized to his 139,000 Twitter followers, saying he meant no disrespect. That wasn’t enough to prevent a boycott of mobile phone company MobiNil, a joint venture between Orascom and France Telecom SA, which lost 800,000 subscribers in the months following the tweet. » | Stephanie Baker and Mahmoud Kassem | Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Iran Clamps Down on Evangelical Christians
THE CHRISTIAN POST: Iran Pushes Islamic Literature Onto Christian Prisoners to Bring Further Charges Against Them

Iran’s court system is tightening its hold on Christian prisoners, pushing Islamic religious literature on them and transferring some to higher security prisons in an attempt to quell Christianity in the Middle Eastern country.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has been informed that during Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s stay in prison, officials provided him with religious Islamic literature “allegedly as part of an official campaign to convert Christian prisoners.”

Nadarkhani has been in an Iranian prison since Oct. 2009, awaiting a verdict on charges of apostasy and evangelizing Muslims.

According to Dr. Khataza Gondwe, Team Leader for Africa and Middle East at CSW, Christian prisoners who receive such literature have been advised to practice caution when responding to official interrogation pertaining to it.

Gondwe told The Christian Post that if prisoners read the literature and respond when interrogated, it must be “done very carefully because [the prisoners] may be open to further charges,” including blasphemy against Islam. » | Katherine Weber | Christian Post Contributor | Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Turkey Earthquake Rescue Efforts Intensify
International aid operations speed up after Turkey's plea for help with the aftermath of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake which killed at least 460 people. Rescue efforts are continuing, but hopes of finding survivors are fading. Many have been left homeless and facing freezing temperatures in insanitary conditions

Seif Al-Islam Reported Willing to Surrender to War Crimes Court
THE TRIPOLI POST: A senior National Transitional Council military official, has said that the second son of the former Libyan leader Muammar Al Qathafi, 39-year-old Seif al-Islam, wants to turn himself in to the Hague war crimes court.

It seems that Seif, his father's heir apparent, who is reportedly travelling with his relative, former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi, is fearing for his life after the capture of his father and his brother Muatassim that led to their death. Instead, fearing he might not be able to find a safe haven across an African border, sees a jail cell in a Dutch jail as his best option.

Both Libyans are indicted by the International Criminal Court, ICC, for crimes against humanity after their crackdown on the popular revolt the began mid-February. The NTC official, Abdel Majid Mlegta, is reported telling Reuters:“They are proposing a way to hand themselves over to The Hague,” [sic] » | Thursday, October 27, 2011

Bangkok Residents Flee Flooding in Thai Capital
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Bangkok residents fled the capital on Thursday after authorities called an emergency five-day holiday and urged people in flood-prone parts of the city to leave to avoid a massive deluge.

Flood waters were already seeping into central parts of Bangkok in the morning, with waters entering the Grand Palace, near the Chao Phraya river.

After days of preparing for the onslaught of water, many citizens abandoned their homes on Wednesday night and Thursday morning and were heading to safety in other areas, especially southern beach towns of Hua Hin, Phuket and Pattaya.

"We have learned that all of these destinations are packed with Thais who have moved from Bangkok," said the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) deputy chief Sansern Ngaorungsi.

He said domestic flights from the country's main air hub, Suvarnabhumi – which is still operating as normal – were also "very, very packed".

Televised footage showed crowded bus terminals in the capital as people sought to escape, while officials said Bangkok's main train station was also filling up and roads north and east out of the city were choked. » | Thursday, October 27, 2011

Villages All But Wiped Out As Storms Batter Italy's 'Cinque Terre'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Five people have been killed and another six are missing after storms and torrential rain caused extensive floods in northern Italy.


The worst affected region was Liguria, with at least two of the five World Heritage-listed 'Cinque Terre' coastal villages cut off as a result of roads being washed away.

The walking trails and picturesque fishing villages of the Cinque Terre attract hundreds of thousands of international tourists, but two of them – Vernazza and Monterosso – were severely affected as rivers of mud poured down from the hills behind them.

The mayor of Monterosso said the fishing village had all but been wiped out.
"Monterosso no longer exists," Angelo Betta told an Italian news agency.

Huge amounts of mud had swept through the tiny settlement, causing an "unimaginable disaster". » | Nick Squires, Rome | Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi 'Trying to Broker Deal to Surrender to ICC'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Col Muammar Gaddafi's fugitive son and his intelligence chief are trying to broker a deal to surrender to the International Criminal Court (ICC), a military commander with the new Libyan administration has claimed.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah al-Senussi had concluded they were safer handing themselves in rather than remaining on the run in Libya, or trying to hide in a neighbouring country.

The Hague-based court issued arrest warrants for the two men and Col Gaddafi in June for their role in the bloody attempted suppression of the February 17 revolution.

A spokesman for the court said he had no information on any proposed deal or negotiations, however.

Diplomatic sources also said they had no information to suggest the claims were true.

"They are proposing a way to hand themselves over to The Hague," said Abdel Majid Mlegta, a senior military commander with the National Transitional Council (NTC). "They feel that it is not safe for them to stay where they are or to go anywhere." » | Ben Farmer, Tripoli | Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Italian MPs in Fist-fight over Pensions

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Tensions over Italy's attempts to avoid becoming the next victim of the eurozone debt crisis exploded in parliament on Wednesday, with MPs exchanging blows and insults over a pension reform plan.

The punch-up exposed the deep rifts within Italy over efforts to stimulate growth and tackle the country's €1.8 trillion (£1.56 trillion) public debt, as Silvio Berlusconi prepared to face a crucial European Union summit in Brussels.

The brawl broke out over sarcastic remarks made on television by Gianfranco Fini, the leader of the opposition Future and Liberty of Italy party, about the wife of Umberto Bossi, the leader of the devolutionist Northern League, whose support is crucial to the prime minister's political survival.

Mr Bossi has objected to plans to reform Italy's generous pension system, crippling the government's attempts to convince the EU that it is serious about embarking on serious structural reforms to kickstart the moribund economy.

In a television interview, Mr Fini claimed that Mr Bossi's opposition to a pensions overhaul was linked to the fact that his wife had retired on a generous state pension at the age of 39 from her job as a teacher.

Italy's complex and outdated pensions system allows some state employees to retire unusually early. » | Nick Squires in Rome | Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Gaddafi's Driver on the Endgame: 'He Didn't Seem to Know What to Do'

THE GUARDIAN: Huneish Nasr, who served Gaddafi for 30 years, tells how denial and confusion marked the final days of a crumbling regime

Huneish Nasr last saw the boss he served for 30 years standing in the ruins of Sirte looking confused as all hell broke loose around them.

"Everything was exploding," said Nasr, Muammar Gaddafi's personal driver, recalling the moments before the deposed dictator was caught last week. "The revolutionaries were coming for us. He wasn't scared, but he didn't seem to know what to do. It was the only time I ever saw him like that."

Minutes later, euphoric rebels had ended Gaddafi's last stand, over-running the ruined quarter of his birthplace that had served as his final, ignominious refuge.

Nasr said he threw his hands up in surrender as gun-toting rebels approached. He was knocked to the ground with a rifle butt, which blackened his left eye. Gaddafi was being pulled from a drainpipe just before Nasr fell. He caught a final glimpse of his master being swarmed over by rebels. Then blows rained down on them both. » | Martin Chulov in Mosrata | Wednesday, October 26, 2011

THE GUARDIAN: Qatar admits sending hundreds of troops to support Libya rebels: Qatari chief-of-staff reveals extent of involv[e]ment, saying troops were responsible for training, communications and strategy » | Ian Black in Tripoli | Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Nick Clegg: Tories 'Have a Bee in the Bonnet over Europe'
The Deputy Prime Minister warns Conservative rebels of the Commons European referendum vote should be careful what they wish for.

Angela Merkel: 'If the Euro Fails, Europe Fails'
Chancellor Angela Merkel says no one should expect measures to tackle the eurozone debt crisis to work overnight.

Oxford Atheist Calls Richard Dawkins "Coward" for Not Debating William Lane Craig

TELEGRAPH BLOGS – TIM STANLEY: Richard Dawkins is either a fool or a coward for refusing to debate William Lane Craig » | Tim Stanley | Friday, October 21, 2011

British Journalist Witnesses Torture in Syrian Jail
Undercover filmmaker Sean McAllister was detained by Syrian security forces in Damascus for five days. He describes what he witnessed.

Read short article here

Arab TV Station Airs Pictures of Gaddafi Funeral Prayer
Dubai-based Al Alaan TV have broadcast amateur footage that they claim shows the bodies of Colonel Gaddafi, his son Mutassim and his defence minister Abu Bakr Yunis prior to their burial in the Sahara Desert.

Read short article here

La Corée du Nord continue de poser une "menace sérieuse"
LE MATIN: La Corée du Nord continue de poser de poser une "menace sérieuse" pour la sécurité dans la péninsule coréenne, a estimé mercredi le secrétaire américain à la Défense Leon Panetta à son arrivée en Corée du Sud, au lendemain de pourparlers avec Pyongyang sur le nucléaire.

La Corée du Nord continue de poser une "menace sérieuse" pour la sécurité dans la péninsule coréenne, a estimé mercredi le secrétaire américain à la Défense Leon Panetta à son arrivée en Corée du Sud, au lendemain de pourparlers avec Pyongyang sur le nucléaire.

"La Corée du Nord continue de poser une menace sérieuse (...). Pyongyang continue de défier la communauté internationale alors qu'il développe ses armes nucléaires et ses capacités balistiques", écrit le chef du Pentagone dans une tribune dans le quotidien sud-coréen Chosun Ilbo. » | AFP | mercredi 26 octobre 2011

Obama – Gaddafi-Tod ist "Botschaft an die Diktatoren"

WELT ONLINE: Gegenüber dem Talkshow-Moderator Jay Leno bezeichnet der US-Präsident den gewaltsamen Tod Gaddafis als Warnung für alle Gewaltherrscher.

US-Präsident Barack Obama sieht den gewaltsamen Tod des früheren libyschen Machthabers Muammar al-Gaddafi als Warnung für alle Gewaltherrscher. „Man wünscht natürlich niemandem solch ein Ende, aber es sendet eine klare Botschaft an die Diktatoren rund um den Erdball“, sagte Obama bei einem Auftritt in der Show von Talkshow-Moderator Jay Leno.

Der Arabische Frühling habe Gaddafi eine Chance zu einem demokratischen Wandel gegeben. „Wir haben ihm jede Gelegenheit dazu gegeben, aber er wollte das nicht.“

Obama kritisierte jedoch die Art, wie der tote Diktator öffentlich zur Schau gestellt wurde. „Es gibt einen bestimmten Anstand, mit dem Tote behandelt werden müssen“, sagte er. » | dpa/ks | Mittwoch 26. Oktober 2011

WikiLeaks cesse ses activités faute d'argent

LE FIGARO: Face à une chute de dons, le site Internet suspend la divulgation de documents secrets. Il accuse Washington de lui imposer un blocus financier en représailles à ses activités.

WikiLeaks est sur la paille. Devenu la bête noire de Washington après la diffusion de câbles diplomatiques américains, le site spécialisé dans la divulgation de documents a été contraint lundi de «suspendre» ses activités faute de fonds.

Pour expliquer la mauvaise situation financière du site basé en Islande, son fondateur Julian Assange a pointé du doigt les géants bancaires Bank of America, Visa, MasterCard, Paypal et Western Union. Ceux-ci ont bloqué depuis fin 2010 les donations au site, qui ont chuté drastiquement. Les dons ont plongé de «plus de 100.000 dollars par mois» (72.000 euros), avant la décision de Visa et de MasterCard, à «6000 ou 7000 dollars» actuellement, a affirmé le porte-parole du site. Un «blocus financier arbitraire et illégal» qui «a détruit 95% de nos revenus», a affirmé Julian Assange. » | Par lefigaro.fr | mardi 25 octobre 2011

Crown Prince Sultan's Funeral Takes Place in Saudi Arabia

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The funeral of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Sultan on Tuesday set the stage for King Abdullah to name a new heir, widely expected to be veteran Interior Minister Prince Nayef, a choice that would emphasise stability in the world's top oil exporter.

Amid the flashing of cameras, Sultan's sons and brothers carried his corpse, swathed in a brown shroud, on a bier through a throng of mourners in Riyadh's sprawling Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque for funeral prayers before burial.

The body of Sultan, who died of colon cancer in New York on Saturday, was flown back to Riyadh on Monday, accompanied by his younger brother and Riyadh Governor Prince Salman, who may now play a more prominent role in the conservative Islamic kingdom.

Among the mourners who went forward to greet King Abdullah after the prayer recital was Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, whose country is a regional rival of Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this month Tehran was accused of backing a plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington, soon after Riyadh had blamed armed protests among its Shi'ite minority on an unnamed foreign power – a coded reference to Iran.

The Royal Court said it would be open to accept condolences for three days from Tuesday. A U.S. delegation headed by Vice President Joe Biden is expected in Riyadh on Thursday. » | Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Tory Demands on EU Powers Are Impossible for Coalition, Says Nick Clegg

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Conservative Party row over Europe put strain on the Coalition as Nick Clegg said it was “impossible” for the Government to deliver on Tory MPs’ demands over the European Union.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that, for as long as his Liberal Democrats were in government, there would be no move towards leaving the EU.

In an intervention described as “very unhelpful” by senior Conservatives, Mr Clegg also forced Downing Street to water down Mr Cameron’s promise to bring back British powers from Brussels.

On Monday, Mr Cameron was rocked by a rebellion of 81 Conservative MPs who demanded a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU.

As the Prime Minister tried to calm the row with warm words about the rebels, Mr Clegg offered a string of provocative comments, scorning the demands of the Conservative backbenches.

“Eurosceptics need to be quite careful for what they wish for, because if they succeed – and they won’t succeed, as long as I’m in government – to push this country towards the exit sign, let’s be clear: that [what] will be damaged is British families, British businesses, British jobs,” said Mr Clegg. » | James Kirkup, Deputy Political Editor | Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Former King of Romania Addresses Parliament for First Time Since 1947

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The former king of Romania and the last wartime leader still alive addressed the Romanian parliament for the first time since his forced abdication in 1947.

Sitting resplendent on a throne-like chair King Michael I, 90, called for politicians to provide greater democracy and to restore the dignity of a country that has struggled to bring wealth and prosperity to all of its people since the overthrow of the despotic regime of Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989.

The king had been afforded the rare privilege of addressing both houses of the Romanian parliament in honour of his 90th birthday.

"The time has come after 20 years to ... break for good with the bad habits of the past", said the king. Taking a swipe at the country's present ruling elite, often chided for apparent self-interest and corruption, he added in 2011 "demagogy, selfishness and attempts to cling to power" should not have their place in Romania.

"All united, we have to pursue our efforts in order to become once more respected and dignified", he said in a speech that won a standing ovation and shouts of "Long live the King!" from some MPs. » | Matthew Day | Tuesday, October 25, 2011

View from the Eurosceptic Right: PM Goes Grey Over Scandal of EU Betrayal

DAILY EXPRESS: CRAVEN MPs were last night accused of cowardice and betrayal after rejecting a referendum on the European Union in a crunch Commons vote.

Despite the biggest-ever Tory rebellion on Europe, David Cameron faced down a courageous attempt by backbenchers to give voters their first say on Britain’s membership of the EU since 1975.

MPs voted overwhelmingly against the Commons motion calling for a national poll on whether to cut or renegotiate Britain’s ties to Brussels.

The result was a bloody nose for the Prime Minister and a stark demonstration of the growing support at Westminster for a referendum.

Campaigners accused the Tory, Lib Dem and Labour MPs who united to kill the Commons motion of wilfully ignoring a huge surge of public support for a plebiscite. And they vowed that there will be no let-up in the drive to give the British people a say on our links with the EU. » | Macer Hall and Martyn Brown | Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Berlusconi in der Krise: Italien schimpft auf Merkel und die Deutschen

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Italien ächzt unter seinen Schulden - und dem Druck Europas: Das Kabinett Berlusconi muss radikale Reformen beschließen, die EU will bis Mittwoch Ergebnisse sehen. Regierung, Präsident und Medien sind sich in einem Punkt einig: Schuld an der Lage sind Kanzlerin Merkel und Frankreichs Sarkozy.

Hamburg/Rom - An Druck ist Italiens Ministerpräsident Silvio Berlusconi gewöhnt. Seit Jahren laufen Prozesse wegen Amtsmissbrauchs und Korruption gegen ihn, er hat sich schon durch 51 Vertrauensfragen in seiner Amtszeit gezittert. Doch wohl noch nie stand er so sehr unter Zugzwang wie in diesen Stunden.

Berlusconi weiß: Irgendetwas wird er Rest-Europa bis Mittwoch vorzeigen müssen. Die EUverlangt bis zum Euro-Gipfel von Berlusconi einen konkreten Plan, wie er sein Land aus Schuldenkrise und Wirtschaftsflaute herausführen will. Doch seine Koalition ist derart zerstritten, dass sie sich kaum auf umfassende Maßnahmen einigen kann.

Entsprechend nervös ist man in Rom: Der Premierminister deutet gegenüber einem Journalisten seinen Rücktritt an. Koalitionspartner Umberto Bossi, Chef der Lega Nord, sagt, die Regierung sei in großer Gefahr. Andere aus der Koalition sprechen bereits über Neuwahlen.

Einig ist sich Berlusconis Chaos-Koalition in diesen Tagen vor allem in einem Punkt: Schuld an der dramatischen Lage sind die Franzosen und die Deutschen. Am Wochenende hatten Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel und Frankreichs Präsident Nicolas Sarkozy von Berlusconi klare Pläne bis zum Euro-Gipfel verlangt - und auf einer Pressekonferenz bei einer Frage zu ihrem Vertrauen in Berlusconi gelacht (ein Video der Szene findet sich hier). Nun fragt sich ganz Italien: Machen sich Merkel und Sarkozy über Berlusconi lustig - oder gar über die Italiener an sich? » | Von Fabian Reinbold | mit Material von dpa und Reuters | Dienstag 25. Oktober 2011

France: l'internaute qui avait brûlé le Coran dans une vidéo a été relaxé
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: La justice alsacienne a confirmé la relaxe de l'homme qui avait diffusé sur le web une vidéo où il brûlait un exemplaire du Coran. Il risquait 45'000 euros d'amende.

La cour d’appel de Colmar a confirmé mardi la relaxe d’un homme de 31 ans poursuivi pour avoir diffusé sur internet en octobre 2010 une vidéo où il brûlait un exemplaire du Coran et urinait sur le livre. Le ministère public avait requis en septembre trois mois de prison avec sursis et 1.000 euros d’amende, comme en première instance. » | AFP | mardi 25 octobre 2011

US and Danish Aid Workers Kidnapped in Somalia
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Two Western aid workers, from the US and Denmark, were kidnapped on Tuesday from a town in central Somalia where they were contracted to a landmine clearance programme.

The pair, a man and a woman, were abducted close to the airport in Galkayo, a town split between two different local authorities but north of territory controlled by al-Shabaab, Somalia’s Islamist insurgents.

A Somali colleague was taken hostage with them.

The three were working for the Danish Demining Group, an offshoot of the Danish Refugee Council, and had spent the day visiting projects in Galkayo’s south, local officials said.

It is the fourth abduction of Westerners by Somali gangs in the last six weeks, following kidnappings of British, French and Spanish women from northern Kenya. » | Mike Pflanz, Nairobi | Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Gay Barman Stuart Walker Killed and Set On Fire
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: A gay man killed in Cumnock, Ayrshire and then left at the side of the road with "horrific" injuries could have been the victim of a homophobic attack, it has emerged.


It's believed Stuart Walker, 28, was beaten and burned alive before he was left in the early hours of Saturday morning.

His charred remains were found by a member of the public at 5am on Saturday in Ayrshire, Scotland.

Detectives launched a murder inquiry on Sunday following the grim discovery, with streets in a nearby industrial estate sealed off as part of the ongoing investigation.

Strathclyde Police confirmed the body had scorch marks and the victim had suffered horrific injuries. » | Sunday, October 23, 2011

Julia Gillard Curtsy Row Dismissed as 'Storm in a Royal Teacup' by Queen

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Julia Gillard's failure to curtsy to the Queen whipped up a storm of controversy in Australia, but failed to upset the monarch, it has emerged.

The Queen, who is in the middle of a 10-day trip to Australia, was said to be unconcerned by Ms Gillard's decision to bow and shake her hand instead of bending at the knee.

The prime minister's greeting incensed some quarters of the Australia media, and many monarchists, who accused Ms Gillard of offensive behaviour and embarrassing the nation.

However, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said the Queen was happy with Ms Gillard's choice.

"The person who is least concerned about protocol is the Queen, we've always said do what you feel comfortable with," she said.

"Absolutely no offence was taken at all – it's a storm in a royal teacup." In fact, the Queen had been "delighted" with the warm reception she has received so far on her visit, the spokesman said. Huge crowds turned out in Brisbane on Monday to wave and cheer the royal couple as they took a cruise up the Brisbane River. » | Bonnie Malkin, Canberra | Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Converts to Islam: Abdur Raheem McCarthy – “Islam Is the Solution”

Pat Condell-America's Religion Fetish (September 2011)

Saudi Arabia: Child Marriage, the Hadiths and the Islamophobia Card
PAKISTAN CHRISTIAN POST: Saudi Arabia continues to allow old men to marry young girls aged eight years old and upwards. The mantra by Muslims and converts to Islam[,] is that Islam equals morality and that Mohammed is a great role model[,] but [doesn’t] this depend[s] on your interpretation of a good role model? Therefore, with Saudi Arabia supporting Islamic Sharia law and believing that society should be based on what Mohammed did and stated in the Hadiths, it is clear that child marriage is sanctioned because Mohammed also married a child.

This reality is creating a problem for the Guardians of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. If this nation modernizes, then it may be seen to be pandering to Western morals and increasing the age of marriage will be challenged by conservative Sunni Islamic leaders in Saudi Arabia.

Ironically, the people who use the “Islamophobia card” are basically trying to prevent individuals speaking out against Islamic Sharia law. This is despite the fact that Islamic Sharia law and the Hadiths support pedophilia, killing homosexuals, killing apostates, chopping hands and feet off for petty crimes, stoning people to death for adultery, and other draconian laws. All these draconian measures are based on the life and sayings of Mohammed.

Therefore, if people are deemed to be “Islamophobic” for fighting against the brutal reality of many Islamic states which are based on hatred and supporting the abuse of children, apostates, homosexuals, and others; then in a world based on justice and morality the overwhelming majority of people should be deemed to be “Islamophobic.”

However, democratic nations, the mass media on a whole, international child advocates, and major institutions like the United Nations are not doing enough to fight against a legal system which clearly discriminates against non-Muslims and allows children to be married to old men.

More surprisingly is that major religious leaders, irrespective if they are Christian, Buddhist, or whatever, appear to be fearful of speaking out against this injustice. The political correct brigade and “trendy left” and “trendy liberals” appear to have “sold their soul” because if anyone speaks out against the brutal reality of Sharia Islamic law then they are deemed to be “Islamophobic.” » | Lee Jay Walker and Murad Makhmudov | Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Übergangsrat: Saif al-Islam befindet sich an der Grenze zu Niger und Algerien

TAGES ANZEIGER: Ghadhafis Sohn will Libyen mithilfe eines gefälschten Passes verlassen. Die Tuareg sollen dabei behilflich sein.

Der vom Internationalen Strafgerichtshof gesuchte Sohn des früheren libyschen Machthabers Muammar al-Ghadhafi, Saif al-Islam, will offenbar in Niger Zuflucht suchen. Ein ranghohes Mitglied der Tuareg sagte der Nachrichtenagentur AP, Saif al-Islam bewege sich auf die Grenze zu. Er werde von Tuareg geleitet, die zu den grössten Anhängern Ghadhafis zählten.

Er befinde sich an der Grenze zu Niger und Algerien und wolle mit Hilfe eines gefälschten Passes das Land verlassen, vermutete derweil ein Vertreter der libyschen Übergangsregierung am Montag. Ghadhafis früherer Geheimdienstchef Abdullah al-Senussi sei in die Pläne involviert. Die Region sei extrem schwierig zu überwachen und einzugrenzen. Deshalb sei es schwierig, die Flucht Saif al-Islams zu verhindern. » | kpn/sda | Dienstag 25. Oktober 2011

EU Referendum Vote: Clegg Says Britain Should Lead, Not Leave, Europe
THE GUARDIAN: Deputy PM says prospect of wresting back powers from EU is 'tilting at windmills' after Cameron suffers backbench rebellion

Fresh differences between Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition partners have been exposed as the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, described the prospect of wresting back powers from Brussels as "tilting at windmills".

The education secretary, Michael Gove, had earlier sought to play down differences between the government and backbenchers after David Cameron suffered the largest postwar rebellion on Europe on Monday night, when 81 Conservative MPs supported a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU.

Gove insisted the policy differences between the government and rebels were exaggerated, and said the two sides were united in their determination to repatriate powers from the EU to Westminster[.]

Clegg, however, condemned the backbench rebellion, saying Britain should be leading, not leaving, Europe.

Recognising that reforms to the EU were necessary, he said: "You don't change Europe by launching some smash-and-grab dawn raid on Brussels. You do it by setting out the case for changes and then arguing the case with other countries.

"We can't do this on our own – we have to build alliances, we have to convince and persuade other countries, and that is what we look to do all the time."

Asked whether the British public could not be trusted with a vote on the country's relationship with Europe, Clegg replied: "I have always advocated a vote on Europe if there is a proposal on the table to transfer significant chunks of sovereignty and policy from our country to Brussels – but it's not on the table.

"We should stop tilting at windmills about threats and challenges which simply aren't there right now. Let's get on with the difficult job of working with our eurozone partners to fix the eurozone because, let's face it, unless you've got a strong, prosperous eurozone, you can't have a strong, prosperous United Kingdom." » | Hélène Mulholland, political reporter | Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Smoking and Drinking Rise as Money Worries Hit Home
IRISH EXAMINER: SALARY cuts and reduced working hours are affecting almost half of all households, with money matters now having overtaken the pursuit of personal happiness in lists of priorities, a study has found.

As the effect of the recession deepens, the 2011 Pfizer Health Index indicates the toll the austere times are taking on our health. Pointing to increased drinking and smoking and lower motivation for personal improvement, the survey finds seven out of 10 people are struggling to make ends meet. » | Catherine Shanahan | Tuesday, October 25, 2011

US Elections 2012: Bizarre Herman Cain Advert Features Chief of Staff Smoking
The Republican presidential nominee's chief of staff puffs on a cigarette in Herman Cain's latest campaing advert.

Libya: Col Gaddafi Buried at Dawn

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Col Muammar Gaddafi was buried at an unknown location at dawn on Tuesday, according to NTC officials.

Officials said earlier that the ousted Libyan leader would be buried in a secret desert grave, ending a wrangle over his rotting corpse that led many to fear for the country's governability.

Transitional government forces had put the body on show in a cold store in Misurata while they argued over what to do with it, until its decay forced them on Monday to end the display.

His son Mutassim is thought to have been buried in the same ceremony. A few relatives and officials were in attendance, according to a Misurata military council official.

Yesterday, the government bowed to international pressure and announced a commission to determine how Gaddafi died after he was cornered in a drain while trying to flee Sirte, his besieged home town. » | Ben Farmer, Tripoli and Barney Henderson | Tuesday, October 25, 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Prince of Wales 'praised Col Muammar Gaddafi in 2007 letter': The Prince of Wales was used to improve Britain's relationship with Muammar Gaddafi and praised the Libyan leader in a letter to him in 2007, according to reports. ¶ In his letter the Prince complimented Gaddafi for his work with Christians, Aids victims and the British Council. ¶ He wrote: "I just wanted to write to Your Excellency to say how heartened I am by the breadth of these developments." » | Tuesday, October 25, 2011

PARIS MATCH: Exclusif. Le dernier message de Kadhafi à l’Occident: C’est peut-être le dernier courrier adressé par Kadhafi au monde occidental : un appel au secours lancé à son ancien ami Silvio Berlusconi écrit le 5 août dernier. Dans un élan désespéré, le président de la Jamahiriya y rappelle le pacte d’amitié scellé moins de deux ans plus tôt entre l’Italie et la Libye et enjoint le président du Conseil italien à faire cesser les bombardements de l’Otan sur son pays. » | François de Labarre - Parismatch.com | lundi 24 octobre 2011

Comment:

Qadhafi has gone. Cameron was determined that he should go. He got his way. Now Islamism will take over instead. It's already happened in Tunisia, and the introduction of sharia law has already begun in Libya. Seif ul-Islam said that if his father were toppled, it would make way for exactly what the West didn't want: Islamism. And he was right.

This in no way means that either Col. Qadhafi or his son were desirable. They were not. But what has really been achieved in Libya? And what has the Arab Spring bought to north Africa? Soon, Europe will be encircled by Islamism to the south and east. There will be an islamist crescent, stretching from west to north-east. Some achievement! – © Mark

This comment appears here

Moderate Islamist Party Declares Victory in Tunisia Elections

LOS ANGELES TIMES: REPORTING FROM TUNIS, TUNISIA -- Tunisia’s moderate Islamist party appeared to win elections for an assembly to draft a constitution Monday, a sign of religion’s growing influence over politics in the country that inspired uprisings across the Arab world.

The apparent victory by Nahda is certain to resonate throughout the region, especially in Egypt where the Muslim Brotherhood is expected to post a strong showing in parliamentary elections next month. Nahda’s ascent from banned organization to popular force indicates that an emerging political Islam may replace decades of rule by secular autocrats.

That prospect indicates that much of the Middle East and North Africa regard Islam and politics as indivisible, a dynamic that has upset liberals in battles over civil rights and what styles of governments will rise from the so-called Arab Spring. Nahda has consistently promised that it is committed to pluralism and tolerance but its opponents claim it masks a more conservative agenda. » | Monday, October 24, 2011

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Triumph der Islamisten alarmiert Diplomaten: Islamisten haben die ersten freien Wahlen Tunesiens gewonnen, in Libyen will der Übergangsrat die Scharia einführen. Westliche Diplomaten warnen vor einer Radikalisierung Nordafrikas, Liberale fürchten Kopftuchzwang und Alkoholverbot. Den Arabischen Frühling hatten sich viele anders vorgestellt. ¶ Tunis/Bengasi - Die Signalwirkung ist enorm: Die Wahlen in Tunesien sind die erste freie Abstimmung nach dem Arabischen Frühling - jener Protestwelle, die vor knapp einem Jahr eben dort ihren Anfang nahm. Nun zeichnet sich ein deutlicher Wahlerfolg der Islamisten ab. » | fab/heb/dpa/Reuters | Montag 24. Oktober 2011

David Cameron Rocked by Record Rebellion as Europe Splits Tories Again
THE GUARDIAN: Largest postwar rebellion on Europe as 81 Tory MPs support call for referendum on Britain's membership of the EU

David Cameron was warned that he faces four years of trench warfare with disgruntled backbenchers after he suffered the largest postwar rebellion on Europe as 81 Conservative MPs supported a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU.

With a new opinion poll showing overwhelming support for a referendum, normally loyal backbenchers told Downing Street that Cameron will face further rebellions unless he takes a tough stance in EU treaty negotiations.

The warnings were issued as nearly half of Cameron's backbenchers defied a three-line whip and voted in favour of a motion calling for a referendum on whether Britain should remain in the EU on current terms, whether to leave or whether to renegotiate Britain's membership. » | Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent | Tuesday, October 25, 2011

THE GUARDIAN: Full list of MPs who voted against the EU referendum: A total of 81 Tory MPs rebelled against the government. In all, 79 Tory MPs voted in favour of an EU referendum while a further two were tellers for the rebels » | Patrick Wintour | Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Europe Destroyed Two Tory PMs. And Now It's Cameron's Problem
THE GUARDIAN: The government will win the vote on a referendum on EU membership – but at what cost to the PM's leadership?

While Tory MP Steve Baker conducted his weekly surgery in High Wycombe on Friday, the phone rang constantly. "Lots of constituents got in touch, urging me to vote for a referendum on Europe," he said. "And members of my association did the same. It is the first time on any issue that I have had that kind of response."

As it turns out, they need not have bothered. Baker, a young MP who entered parliament only in 2010, is already a fully developed muscular Eurosceptic. He had decided days before that he would rebel in Monday's Commons vote on whether the people should be granted a referendum on UK membership of the European Union. "Personally I think reform of the EU is impractical and that we should come out," he said. "So I will be backing the motion."

Across the country, Tory MPs – many of whom are worried about retaining their seats after boundary changes – have been ordered by their constituents to do the same, or else.

At Westminster, however, the pressure on them has been to do precisely the opposite. David Cameron and his whips are making clear they expect Conservatives to vote against Monday's motion. Their argument is that the UK must help to shape a better, more economically successful Europe from within and that now, of all times, is not the moment for a noisy revival of Brussels-bashing. » | Toby Helm, political editor | Saturday, October 22, 2011